Beer Here

Or not...two stands already are out of beer...and we're not even through 3

-Andrew

Wi-fi At The Stadium

Well I guess you need a log-on...so much for free wi-fi

-Andrew

View From The Seats

The ticketing system sucked and the security guy frisking people was worse than being at the airport. But I'm so excited.

Now throwing out the first pitch is Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!

-Andrew

A Thank You To My Dad

On June 26, 1988, my dad pushed me in a stroller to my first Yankees game. I was 4 1/2 years old so the only reason I was even able to remember the date was because of the Beach Boys concert that followed the game (and I became a big fan of "Kokomo"). The Yankees beat the Indians in the bottom of the ninth on a game winning single from Claudell Washington off Bud Black (Dave Righetti was the winning pitching). And my love for baseball started. 

I'm not going to say that I wouldn't have been into sports had it not been for my dad, but I'm pretty sure it would have never been this great a love or something I put as much passion and energy into as I do. From as long as I can remember, we would drive with WFAN on in the car, we would be talking about sports, and the living room would be filled with Yankees/Giants/Knicks/Rangers broadcasters. 

My first real memory of going to Yankee Stadium was for the Cub Scouts in kindergarten or first grade. We went on an amazingly hot day which just so happened to be hat day. My dad was a chaperone and he was pouring water on my head to keep me cool. The problem was that the hats were so cheaply made, that the dye ran all over my face. In our seats right behind home plate in the tier reserved section 1, I didn't really care because I was enjoying myself so much.

I would go to many more Yankee games with my dad throughout the years. We sat in a mostly empty park and watched Jim Abbot throw a no hitter in 1994. We saw my favorite player, Don Mattingly, navigate that bag at first like I don't think I've seen a player do since. In 1995, we broke my first Yom Kippur fast at Yankee Stadium while watchings Game 2 of the ALDS in some of the worst seats in the old stadium. When Don Mattingly hit a homerun into the October night, beer flew into the sky all over the cast on my arm. I couldn't care one bit; as the stands shook, I had my first amazing taste of October baseball.

We would go back to October a few times the next few years, but none probably more memorable than two consecutive games in 1998. My dad and I had waited in line for hours to get tickets for the ALCS and finally got 4 tickets for Game 6. My dad, aunt, cousin and I would sit right on the right field wall in foul territory.

There we would heckle Indians rightfielder Manny Ramirez with a few other fans. They yelled at Manny "let's meet at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe", a place I recognized from my drives down the Major Deegan to the Stadium. We were relentless to Manny. And then, in a crutial spot in the game, Derek Jeter hit a smash to right field. We got up thinking it was gone. So did Manny who climbed the wall. The ball never got that far. It landed at his feet. After that play, we heckled Manny more than ever. And he finally just looked at us with his hands on his hips and stared. Mariano Rivera would then come in and close out the ALCS. The whole crowd celebrated. And we will always claim the reason Manny missed that ball was because of us.

A few nights later my aunt and cousin would return the favor and bring me to Game 1 of the World Series, the only World Series game I've ever been to. The one person missing from that game was my dad. He let me take his ticket. Although the Yankees staged a historic, dramatic comeback against San Diego, and I celebrated in a shaking stands with a crowd that supposedly could be heard more than 30 blocks away, I felt a little odd that I couldn't celebrate the victory with my dad.

We would return to the stadium many more times. No matter how many times I would go to the Stadium in a season, I would still get this tingly feeling walking out to the stands and seeing that unbelievably green grass.

But some things changed. Although we had seen a lot of winning, we were at Yankee Stadium for the worst of bad losses: Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS to the Red Sox. Jimmy's Bronx cafe is now, *gulp*, a Dallas BBQ. When I left for college, our constant sports discussions were conducted over the phone and, when I went abroad for a semester, Skype. Last year I got to go to the All Star Game and the last game at the old Yankee Stadium. And like too many games recently, unfortunately neither one was with my dad.

But I'm returning the favor he gave me 21 years ago. My dad took me to my first game at the old stadium, and I am taking him to his first game at the new stadium tomorrow (unfortunately he could not make it tonight so I had to go with a friend).

I don't think I would have loved sports as much without him (and therefore, this blog probably would have never happened). As the sun finally comes out, I now realize I'm about to experience something amazing and that I'll share with my children and their children. And I don't think I would have ever had this opporunity without my dad. So, dad, I want to thank you.

-Andrew

Plax Gone

Breaking News: The Giants have officially cut ties with the legally entangled Plaxico Burress today, answering any possible questions as to whether or not the star receiver would return to Giants next season. ESPN.com has more.

Amazing Murray Hill Song

Wow...pretty amazing job desribing my hood. Hilarious (H/T Michelle)

No Thank You Nets

My conversation with a guy from the New Jersey Nets ticket office today:

Him: hi, I'm calling from the Nets, I saw you bought some tickets this season

Me: they were free...

Him: well I wanted to see if you wanted to come out to some games the rest of the season?

Me: are they free?

Him: not exactly, we're doing buy one, get one free for fan appreciation

Me: and if they play like crap like they've done recently, can I get my money back?

Him: no

Me: then I'm not interested

Him: can I interest you in season tickets or half season packages for next season?

Me: if they suck, do I get a refund?

Him: no

Me: nah...I think I'll pass...

Him: well thank you for your time and we'll call you next year

-Andrew

New Yankee Stadium Metro North stop isn't very helpful for those in CT

MTA announced the details surrounding its new service to Yankee Stadium. The good news is that the station opens on May 23. The bad news is that Yankees fans in Connecticut won't find this "upgrade" very helpful. The New Haven line will only offer direct service to the Stadium on weekends and holidays.

But what about weekday games, you ask? MTA's official statement: New Haven Line customers will be able to transfer to Hudson Line trains, or special game-day shuttles, at Grand Central or Harlem-125th Street Station, using our new "Via" fares, which are slightly higher than fares to Grand Central.

It is true that the New Haven line will offer some direct return service for weeknight games. But that doesn't solve the problem of how to get to the game in the first place.

The answer is that Yankees fans in Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and any of the elitist towns in between, will do what they have been doing for years. They'll take Metro North to Harlem-125th Street and change trains. Only you won't be changing to the 4 train. Instead, you'll stay on the Metro North tracks and be charged the new "Via" fares which, again, are slightly higher.

Seriously, this is getting out of hand. The Yankees are trying to price out Joe Sixpack from attending the game on a budget. ($10 beers anyone?) Now MTA has entered the ring. More money for the same headache.

We CT residents will still have to switch trains at Harlem-125th Street, but we won't have to walk 2 blocks to the subway and we will have our own Metro North station at the Stadium. Big deal. They're still charging more money. And unless we get regular direct service from the New Haven line to the Stadium, I do not consider this an upgrade.

Okay, venting done.

Update: Andrew has informed me that the Harlem line will have the same problems (affecting Scarsdale, White Plains, etc.) Which makes me wonder....why did MTA spend so many millions of dollars to build this station if they are not going to offer regular service from all Metro North lines? What will end up happening is that people like Andrew's dad (coming from Scarsdale) and me (coming from Stamford) will end up switching from Metro North to the subway (4 train) at the Harlem-125th Street stop - thus defeating the whole purpose of building a devoted Yankee Stadium Metro North station.

Bob Sheppard To Retire

This according to the New York Times. Sad news indeed for the voice of the Yankees and for all of us fans who got chills hearing his voice welcoming us to Yankee Stadium. It also led to many, many impressions: "Now batting...the shortstop...number 2...Derek Jeter...number 2" (and in typical Jeter fashion, he asked that recording to be played all of last season when Sheppard was not with the Yankees). Sheppard did the public address for Giants games as well. How about this fact: The last lineup that Sheppard announced was actually his first. Doherty said that two months ago, he had Sheppard recreate the first lineup he did, on April 17, 1951. It included Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.

 

He will be sorely missed.

 

Quote of the Day

I know it's only halfway through the day, but I'm ready to declare it. This quote comes from Jim Leyland and is about his decision to release Hall-of-Famer   steroids user   chronic whiner   racist  outfielder Gary Sheffield:

 

“It’s not good when you light up two Marlboro’s at the same time at 3 a.m., washing it down with a glass of chocolate milk.”

 

(H/T Deadspin and Baseball Musings)